Tammy Ayres

Lecturer in Criminology

Contact Details

• Tel: +44 (0)116 252 5700
• Email: tca2@le.ac.uk
• Office: Room 2.07 2nd floor, 154 Upper New Walk
• Office Hours: By appointment only

Biography

Tammy graduated from the University of Leicester in 2001, with a BSc (Hons) in Sociology and went on to complete her MSc in Criminology, with distinction, here at the Department.  She then went on to obtain a Postgraduate degree in Law from Nottingham Law School in 2004 before becoming a research assistant, then a University Tutor and finally a lecturer in Criminology here at Leicester.  Previously, Tammy has conducted research for HM Prison Service on drug supply, substance detoxification, self-harm and suicide.

Research Interests

The link between drugs and crime; particularly why some drug users control their drug use, whilst others descend in to more problematic patterns of drug use and criminality.  The prison system, including drugs in prison and its subsequent treatment; specifically chemical detoxification and retoxification; the perceived links between substance use, self-harm and suicide within the prison system; ‘narcoterrorism’; and the issues surrounding female substance users. 

PhD Research

Drugs and crime have become inextricably linked in contemporary discourse; particularly dominant is the notion that drug use causes crime, which underpins current drug policy and treatment.   However, contrary to the dominant ideology, the majority of arrestees, although drug users, are not problematic users and report little to no connection between their drug use and offending (UKDCP, 2008).  It is true that drugs are more prevalent in offender populations, than criminality is in drug using populations, but there is a lack of research explaining why some drug using offenders control their use whilst others do not or how this relates to criminality.  Therefore, the aim of this thesis is to elucidate on the drug crime relationship, by comparing male drug using offenders with male drug using non-offenders to see if there are any differences between drug users who commit crime and those who do not.

I am currently looking for male drug using offenders and non-offenders to participate in this research. The questionnaire is fairly long and takes about 35-45 minutes to complete, but please don't be put off by this as your input is invaluable.

If you are a drug user without a criminal record (i.e. no police cautions, have never been charged with a criminal offence or been found not guilty if charged) and would like to take part in my PhD research (confidentiality and anonymity is guaranteed), please use the following link http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22BQKFUCB58

If you are a drug user with a criminal record and would like to take part in my PhD research (confidentiality and anonymity is guaranteed), please use the following link http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22CJ53PXHUN/

Alternatively, you can also opt to undertake this questionnaire with the help of the researcher who will assist in its administration. If this is your preferred choice, then please contact me directly on tca2@le.ac.uk

Teaching 

• Drugs, Crime and Society (Undergraduate year 2 option module)
• Understanding Terrorism in Contemporary Society (Postgraduate core module)
• Criminological Research Methods (Postgraduate core module) 
• Drugs and Crime (Postgraduate option module)
• Responding to Terrorism (Postgraduate option module)

Publications

Ayres, T.C. and Bond, J.W. (2012) ‘A chemical analysis examining the pharmacology of novel psychoactive substances freely available over the internet and their impact on public (ill)health.  Legal Highs or Illegal Highs?’ British Medical Journal Open, 2 (4): 1-10.

Ayres, T.C. and Jewkes, Y. (in press) 'The Haunting Spectacle of Crystal Meth: A Media Created Mythology' Crime Media Culture, 8 (3).

Ayres, T.C. and Treadwell, J. (2012). 'Bars, Drugs and Football Thugs: Cocaine Use amongst English Football Firms' Criminology and Criminal Justice, 12 (1), 83-100.

Palmer, E. J., Hatcher, R. M., McGuire, J., Bilby, C. A. L., Ayres, T. C. and Hollin, C. R. (2011). 'Evaluation of the Addressing Substance-Related Offending (ASRO) Program for Substance-Using Offenders in the Community'. Substance Use and Misuse, 46 (8), 1072-1080.

Palmer, E. P., Hollin, C. R., Hatcher, R. M., and Ayres, T.C. (2010) 'Arson' in F. Brookman, T. Bennett, M. Maguire, and H. Pierpoint (eds.), Handbook of Crime, Cullompton: Willan, 380-392.